Skincare Regime

There has been much hype of late about
Korean skincare technology, leading the beauty world. It has been widely reported in fashion
magazines with the likes of Allure, Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire all publishing
articles on the notorious 10-12 step Korean skincare regime, which may be
enough to put anyone off (honestly, how many people have that much free time to
care for their skin?), so lets break it down.

Embedded in the Korean culture is the
notion of gently caring and nurturing your skin, a daily regime that is worthy
of their time and money. Not considered
as a chore but rather a process that is to be enjoyed. So, what are all the steps involved?

1. First Cleanse (oil cleanser or cleansing wipes) – The
regime typically starts with the infamous double cleanse. This involves either using cleansing wipes or oil cleansers. This will
remove the bulk, if not all make up, along with other impurities and excess
oils.

2. Second Cleanse – To ensure the skin is
thoroughly clean, Korean women will then cleanse again with a foam cleanser. Korean women believe in treating the skin
with gentle care so always gently pat or softly massage in a circular, outward
motion.

3. Exfoliate – To ensure truly clean and
supple skin, the skin needs to be free of dead skin cells. So how better than to exfoliate and scrub
these wastes away. We would not
recommend exfoliating every night, as exfoliating and scrubbing can be very
harsh on the skin. We recommend 2-3 times a week.

4. Toner – This removes any residual dirt
and cleansing or exfoliating products left behind. Toners will also moisturize, restore the pH
of the skin and prep the skin to better absorb products that are later added,
such as essences and serums.

5. Essence – Considered by many Koreans as the essential step. A liquid that is rich in nutrients and aids
in the skin regeneration process by enhancing the skin’s cellular renewal and
turnover rate.

6. Serum/Ampoule– A concentrated solution
that is rich in key active ingredients and nutrients. Serums typically tackle a specific problem or
skin concern such as anti-aging, hydration, skin tone and brightness. Serums can be layered. The beauty of this step is that you can truly
customize your skincare regime to your skin’s needs. For example, you can add a
collagen and hyaluronic acid serum for anti-aging and hydrating and softening
the skin. Or if you want to brighten and
even out your complexion, you can also add a skin brightening serum.

7. Sheet Masks – These come as a sheet mask
or gel mask. Both are used in the same way. Simply remove the packaging and
align on the face. Leave on for the recommended time frame and take off and
discard. We recommend using it 2-3 times
a week to maximize effectiveness.

8. Eye Cream – The skin around the eyes is
generally thinner and more sensitive, therefore a specially developed cream is
necessary to nourish, hydrate and protect this area, to help prevent and
improve puffiness, dark circles and fine lines.

9. Moisturiser/Emulsions – Necessary for
rehydrating the skin after cleansing and delivering key ingredients and
nutrients to the skin. Don’t rub into
the skin but rather gently pat or massage in a circular motion.

10. Sleeping Masks – A rich and powerful cream that works while you sleep. Given there
are so many different masks, it is easier to think of this as a powerful
moisturizer, therefore apply as you would a normal moisturizer, not thick as a
traditional mask.

11. SPF – Essential to protect against the sun’s harsh rays, to help prevent
sun spots and freckles.

While we don’t disagree there is a lot to
digest and take in, and can easily be overwhelming, do not fear. All the steps
are not required every day. Those who
are new to this system can just start with the bare minimum, cleanse, tone,
moisturize and sun protection. You can
slowly build on as you feel more comfortable, by adding an essence and/or serum
(which really doesn't take much extra time) and later add an exfoliator, sheet
mask or sleeping mask once, then twice a week.

Be warned: it can become an
addictive and somewhat therapeutic process, as you take time out for yourself
(otherwise known as "me time”) as you nurture and care for your skin as how the
Korean women have been doing for decades, particularly as you start seeing
positive results and improvements.